Lighting & PAR Calculator
Calculate the PAR levels in your planted tank and find the ideal lighting for your plants. Includes photoperiod recommendations and algae risk warnings.
Tank Dimensions
Light Setup
Estimated PAR at Substrate
Wattage for Your Tank
What is PAR?
PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) measures the light energy available for plant photosynthesis. It's measured in micromoles per square meter per second (umol/m2/s).
Unlike lumens (which measure brightness to the human eye) or watts (which measure power consumption), PAR tells you exactly how much usable light your plants receive.
A light might look bright to you but have low PAR, or vice versa. This is why aquarium-specific lights are designed to maximize PAR in the wavelengths plants actually use.
Signs of Lighting Problems
- Green algae on glass and decor
- Hair algae or BBA outbreak
- Plants turning yellow/pale
- Stunted new growth
- Leggy, stretched stems
- Plants leaning toward light
- Lower leaves dying off
- Slow or no growth
Track Your Planted Tank
Log fertilizer doses, CO2 levels, and plant growth. Get reminders for trimming and see how your tank evolves over time.
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